October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Our doctors at Saskatoon Naturopathic Medicine can help you learn to eat foods to prevent breast cancer or reoccurrences of the disease.

Cruciferous vegetables contain nutrients that help with healthy estrogen metabolism and breast health. This family of vegetables includes the following: Arugula, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collard Greens and Kale. Indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphanes are the phytonutrients found in these vegetables that have anticancer properties. Aim to eat one serving per day of cruciferous vegetables and keep your breasts healthy!

Here is one of Dr Velichka’s favorite recipes which incorporates these vegetables into your diet.

Mashed Cauliflower with Kale

1 medium to large head of cauliflower

5 medium leaves of kale, washed and chopped

½ tsp fresh or dried dill

1-2 Tbsp of olive oil, ghee butter or coconut oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Parsley for garnish (optional)

Bring half a pot of water to boil. Add head of cauliflower and boil for 5 minutes until cauliflower is quite tender. Strain water from pot. Mash cauliflower with a vegetable masher or blend in blender. Mix in chopped kale and let wilt with the heat from the hot cauliflower. Add oil or ghee butter, dill, salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley. Enjoy!

This is a quick and simple way to include an extra serving of non-starchy vegetables to your main meal.

Hormones direct many different systems in your body. They are involved in stress management, thyroid function, glucose regulation, and reproductive health.

Join naturopathic doctors Dr. Darlene Reid-Ahenakew and Dr. Amy Velichka on Monday, May 14th for an integrative perspective on hormonal health. This presentation will begin at 7 pm at McNally Robinson Bookstore on 8th Street in the travel alcove.

Learn ways to promote a healthy hormonal balance to improve the way you look, feel and age. There is no cost to attend. Come on out and bring a friend!

We are very excited to welcome a new naturopathic doctor to our team. Dr. Darlene Reid-Ahenakew is a licenced naturopathic doctor in Saskatchewan. Her premedical training was at Queen’s University, graduating with a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education, as well as a Bachelor of Life Sciences. She spent 4 more years at CCNM in Toronto and graduated with her ND in 2001.

Dr. Reid-Ahenakew practiced in Ontario for 12 years where she held a busy family practice and had the opportunity to mentor with several exceptional NDs. She has enjoyed practicing in Saskatoon since 2013 and recently joined Saskatoon Naturopathic Medicine in April 2018.

Her clinical experience over the years has been diverse, although she has worked with many patients with anxiety and migraines. She has also treated many patients with a broad spectrum of digestive concerns including food intolerances, SIBO and colitis. She has helped many patients with eczema and neurological conditions, as these are areas she has personal experience in with her 2 boys. A recent focus has been on autoimmune conditions and helping patients with Hashimoto’s disease has been a prevalent part of her practice in recent years.

Dr. Reid-Ahenakew looks forward to providing you with exceptional healthcare and is currently accepting new patients. If you are interested in booking an appointment as a new patient or for a follow-up visit, please call the clinic at 306-664-2150. To read her full bio, please click here

Have you ever been on a massage table and feel like you are going to fall asleep or have fallen asleep? You know then how beneficial massage can be for relaxation and for stress reduction. You may also know that the night after receiving a massage treatment you generally sleep better than other nights.

Many people experience insomnia at some point in time. Insomnia is defined as difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. If you experience stress or anxiety this can increase your odds of experiencing insomnia. Relaxation massage can help with insomnia by decreasing stress levels in the body. Your massage therapist may also teach you diaphragmatic breathing techniques. Massage therapy can provide benefits with other underlying pain and stress responses, which can sometimes be caused by a specific conditions such as migraines, fibromyalgia, or cancer.

If you experience insomnia, a chronic illness or are going through a difficult time caring for someone affected by cancer, we encourage you to consider massage therapy at our clinic. We currently have two excellent Registered Massage Therapists available and offer several types of massage including relaxation, deep tissue, and myofascial release. Call the office at 306-664-2150 to book your appointment today.

What is a Myers Cocktail?

One of the most common IVs provided by naturopathic doctors across North America is a Myers cocktail. What is in this popular IV and what can it be helpful for?

The Myers cocktail is an intravenous mixture of minerals and vitamins that is administered directly into a vein and is infused over a timespan of 15-45 minutes. It can be effective against asthma symptoms, migraines, fatigue, fibromyalgia, acute muscle spasm, upper respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, and cardiovascular disease.

The vitamins in the Myers cocktail include vitamin C, vitamin B complex, vitamin B12, magnesium, and calcium. It is a fairly simple formula. However, taking these nutrients intravenously means they are 100% absorbed into circulation which is dramatically more than the absorption through the gut with oral supplementation. Though the high levels of nutrients provided by a Myers cocktail will only last a few hours in circulation, the benefits can be profound over the long-term.

Some patients may receive the Myers cocktail weekly or monthly. Naturopathic doctors may recommend this option when a patient has trouble with absorption (including patients with IBS or IBD) or when a patient is chronically ill and a less invasive nutritional plan is not effective. Naturopathic doctors work with their patients with complex health conditions to identify root cause issues and assess an individuals need for advanced nutritional IV therapy. Patients who are a candidate for this treatment will be assessed by their naturopathic doctor to ensure safety and to consider any individual modifications to the formula that may be required.

To learn more about the effectiveness of the Myers cocktail including its history, applications, theory, and research please go to the following link by Dr. Alan Gaby, MD:

Summer is in full swing right now and so are the bugs. We have the perfect solution for enjoying these summer days bug free.

We feel pain and itching sensations from bug bites and stings due to irritants left behind in the skin after the bite/sting. The immune system identifies the irritant left under the skin and responds with inflammation and histamine release. There are several natural remedies which provide anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-itch effects. Many of these remedies also draw out the irritants that are left under the skin leaving less behind for the immune system to react to. When you have a bite or sting, remember to limit scratching the bite to avoid infection at the site. In the case of a sting, ensure the stinger is removed prior to applying a topical treatment.

Note - The following remedies are for uncomplicated bug bites or stings with no associated allergy, fever, or risk of serious infection.

PLANTAIN LEAF

Plantain is a common weed found in many environments throughout North America. You may find it near sidewalks or pavement, on the roadside, or in the backyard, garden or park. Look for a wide, oval shaped leaf with five to nine conspicuous veins. Each vein runs down the length of each leaf. When you break the stem, you will see fibers which resemble the fibers found in celery. Mature plants will have small greenish-brown flowers with purple stamens.

How to use Plantain for bug bites or stings? Crush the leaf by rolling in between your fingers. Apply to the affected area. Cover with a full leaf, gauze or bandage until you find relief from the bug bite/sting. If itchiness or inflammation begins to return, use a fresh leaf and repeat above steps.

Note – Chickweed can also be used in the same way to soothe and heal bug bites/stings.

ALOE LEAF

Break aloe leaf and rub the inside gel directly to the bite. Enjoy the soothing, cooling and healing effects provided by this remedy.

CHAMOMILE TEA BAG

Soak a tea bag in water and apply to the bite. The anti-inflammatory properties will help ease the pain and swelling while the anti-microbial effects will help reduce chances of infection. Chamomile tea bags will help speed up the healing process.

Note - Chamomile may cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to plants in the Asteraceace family. These reactions, however, are extremely rare.

OATMEAL COMPRESS

Ingredients:½ cup oatmeal1 clean sock1 rubber band

Fill the sock with oatmeal and attach around the faucet, securing with the rubber band. Fill the tub with the water that runs through the oatmeal sock. Soak for 10-20 mins. The anti-itch properties from the oats will help to sooth and heal your bug bites. You can also use the sock as a poultice or loufa moving it over the affected area(s). This remedy is also highly recommended for children with eczema, rashes or irritated, inflamed skin.

Mix all ingredients together and apply directly to the bite or sting. Repeat every few hours as required. This soothing remedy effectively draws out the substance causing the itch and provides anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects. Start using it as soon as you can after the bite or sting. This remedy can be kept in the fridge in a small jar for approximately 1-2 weeks.

Tip – Keep dry ingredients in a small jar in your first aid kit at home. When you need to use it, just add the liquid ingredients. Water may also be used instead of witch hazel if this is all you have available.

We kindly ask that you refrain from wearing scented products when visiting our clinic. These products can include:

perfume and fragrances

cologne and aftershave

deodorant

scented soaps, lotions and creams

hairspray

shampoo and conditioner

Scented products can cause allergic reactions and respiratory distress. Saskatoon Naturopathic Medicine is a fragrance-free environment as we strive to keep our air clean for those with severe sensitivities. We appreciate your cooperation.

Dr. Toby Bridgman, ND has been treating patients experiencing chronic pain with prolotherapy for the past 8 years. He is an expert in regenerative injection therapy. Prolotherapy is most appropriate for chronic pain in joints and ligaments. Arthritis, joint degeneration, sports injury, back pain, shoulder pain, and knee pain can all be treated effectively with prolotherapy.

Prolotherapy is an injection therapy for musculoskeletal pain and works by leveraging the body’s own innate ability to heal by causing inflammation. Inflammation is achieved by injecting relatively simple medicines into the joint. The medicines used in a prolotherapy injection are procaine and dextrose (sugar). Procaine is an over-the-counter, local anesthetic which breaks down in the bloodstream shortly after treatment. Procaine allows the injections to be more comfortable by “numbing” the treated area. The second medicine dextrose is a form of sugar and is the active medicine in the injections. The highly concentrated dextrose solution will immediately cause irritation and inflammation in the area injected. After the injection the dextrose will be quickly absorbed by the surrounding tissues and metabolized. In fact, only a few hours after treatment both medicines injected will have been completely broken down. Hours after treatment the only thing that will remain is the inflammation from the injection. The inflammation created stimulates the body’s innate and natural ability to heal itself.

Saskatchewan is a large province. Traveling to see medical professionals can be time-consuming and expensive. Before coming to see us for a consult, please feel free to call and set up a brief phone consult free of charge with Dr. Bridgman, ND to see if the treatment is appropriate for you. During your initial visit, he will go through a complete review of your health to rule out possible underlying causes for chronic pain. This will include a physical assessment of the areas affected.

For more information or to book an appointment, please call the clinic at 306-664-2150.

You are invited to celebrate NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE WEEK by viewing THAT SUGAR FILM on Thursday, May 11 at 7:00 pm at the Broadway Theater. Cost $10.

The film will be followed by a 20 minute panel discussion of NDs on the topic: “What REALLY is a healthy diet?” Call 306-664-2150 today to purchase your tickets. Also available online through Broadway Theatre at https://broadwaytheatre.ca/films